Come Into His Courts
Psalm 96:8 ESV says, “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!”
What do you think about when you think about worship? Many of our thoughts about worship refer to the outward expressions of praise or the environments in which we experience God’s presence. For some worshiping God through song is the first place they turn. Others prefer solitude and nature, and others look to serving or experiencing community.
External elements of worship are important, but worship is a spiritual practice that comes from the heart. To truly worship God and abide, we must learn to engage the unseen realm of heaven.
Scholars devote lifetimes of study and research to explain the many ways Moses’ tent of meeting (later to become the temple) demonstrated the heavenly reality in earthy symbols. Through generations of priestly service, the nation of Israel acted out worship in what was a ceremonial shadow of the courts of heaven. So the writer of Pslam 96 most likely describes coming into the earthly courts of God’s temple and bringing a physical offering as outlined in the law.
Yet worship in the New Covenant is a spiritual act of truth-filled devotion—no longer bound to earthy symbols, we are given access to heaven through the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no requirement to enter into a physical place because Jesus broke down this wall of separation on the cross. Instead of being confined to a sacred space in a special location, all believers could now enter the true holy of holies by the power of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 27:51 (NIV) describes this powerful event, saying, “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split.”
With dramatic display, the holiness of God was released to all mankind. It was no man that tore the veil, but the hand of God! Today we can interpret Psalm 96 as calling us to enter into a spiritual place of worship with gratitude. So, does anyone have directions for how to get out of this earthly realm into an unseen glory? Of course not! This place of praise is accessed through faith alone, but it is not as elusive as you might think.
Paul lays it out in Colossians 3:1-3 NIV, saying, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
We should not suppose that engaging our heart is any less mysterious than the innate ability to command your arm to raise above your head. Can you really understand how something so radical takes place? From your will alone, your brain sends the message for countless biological systems to engage for your arm to be raised.
It is no different in the spiritual realm. You are created with a spiritual being. Paul calls us to simply set our hearts on heaven, recognizing that we have been invited to abide with Christ and enter into glory. I can’t explain to you in detail how your brain can cause your body to move any more than I can explain to you how setting your mind on Christ can open a spiritual door to the courts of God. They are both equally mysterious and marvelous realities.
All I know is that I have been invited to enter into heaven. Pause and consider this glorious invitation. Even now, the door to the glorious throne room of God is wide-open for all who call on his name. Consider this when you come before God in corporate worship or when you minister through obedient service of others. Think of this when you are at work or spending time with your family. What would your life look like if you consistently set your heart on the things above and entered into God’s courts with praise? What might you experience? How would your perspective shift?
Christ tore the veil, so enter in!
